Electrical precipitator



April 1, 1930. G. E. McCLOSKEY ELECTRICAL P RECIPITATOR Fild Feb. 10, 1927 m MINVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GREGORY EDWARD MCCLOSKEY, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE BARRETT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY ELECTRICAL PRECIPITATOR Application filed February 10, 1927. Serial No. 167,338.

ployed for the purification of gases to remove suspended solid and liquid particles therefrom. When the gases treated contain vapors which condense or tend to condense during the electrical precipitation treatment, any condensed liquids, as well as any separated liquid particles, are precipitated from the gases.

The improved precipitator of the present invention is particularly advantageous for treating such gases containing suspended liquid particles in the form of fog or mist, etc., I as well as gases containing condensable vapors, or mixtures of vapors more or less of which condense or tend to condense during the electrical precipitation treatment.

Among the applications for which the improved precipitator is designed are the removal of tar fog or mist from coal distillation and other gases, the treatment of gaseous or vapor mixtures containing condensable oil constituents, etc. The invention is, however, of more or less general application to the treatment of gaseousmixtures and particularly gas and vapor mixtures containing suspended or condensable constituents.

The ordinary electrical precipitator is adapted to remove suspended solid particles, and it will also precipitate liquid particles present in the form of mist or fog or otherwise in the gases. The electrical precipitators heretofore known have not, however, been well adapted for the treatment of gases containing liquid particles because of the arrangement of the electrodes and especially the chambers enclosing the insulators which support the electrodes which have been so designed as to permit condensation of liquid therein. When liquid particles are condensed 50 in these chambers. the accumulated liquid therein is likely to cause short circuits and consequent break-down'of the high tension current which is essential to the proper function of the precipitator.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved precipitator in which any liquid condensed in the insulator chambers drains immediately into the body of the precipitator and accumulates with the other liquid formed therein so that all danger of short-circuits in the apparatus is avoided.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation, partially in section, of a precipitator embodying the invention;

gig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough; an 1 Fig. 3 is a plan View, partially in section, of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

The precipitator embodying the invention comprises a shell 5, preferably cylindrical in form, having a gas inlet 6 near the lower end thereof and a gas outlet 7 near its upper end. A baiile 8 partially separates the lower or liquid collecting chamber 9 from the electrode chamber 10. A plurality of tubes 11 are sup ported in heads 12 within the electrode chamber and form the positive electrodes of the separator, the shell of which is grounded. A conducting support 13 extends through the electrode chamber and carries bus-bars 14 at the ends thereof which support the electrodes 15 in spaced relation to the walls of tubes ll. The bus-bars 14 at the top of the separator extend through openings 16 into chambers 17 in which insulators 18 aiiord a support .for

the bus-bars. The bus-bars may be connected to any suitable source of high tension current. The openings 16 are disposed closely adjacent to the bottoms of the chambers 17 so that any liquid condensed in these chambers flows immediately through the openings into the body of the precipitator and thence downwardly through the tubes 11. Consequently no liquid can accumulate in the chambers 17 and the possibility of short-circuits therein is avoided. If desired coils 19 may be disposed in the chamber 17 about-the insulais permitted to drain into the shell, an insulator in the chamber, a bus-bar supported on the insulator and connected to one set of electrodes, and means within the chamber to raise the temperature therein.

In testimony whereof I afix mysignature.

GREGQRY EDWARD McCLQSKEY.

The high tensiondischarge between the electrodes and the tubes 11 eifects the removal of substantially all solid and liquid particles from the gases, The liquid particles accumulate on the walls of the tubes 11 and fiow downwardly and over the baflle 8 into the chamber 9. The solid particles are carried along with the liquid so that the removed foreign matter is withdrawn continuously from the active zone of the precipitaton. The liquid accumulated in the chamber 9 can be withdrawn continuously or periodically through an outlet 20 at the bottom of the precipitator. The shell 5 is provided with man-' holes or clean-outdoors 21 so disposed asto permit access to the precipitator forthepurpose of removing accumulations of solid .or liquid materials therein and the repair and replacement of the electrodes. A coolin agent such as water can be introduced through inlet 22 and withdrawn through outlet 23.

The precipitator as described is peculiarly adapted for the treatment of gases containing liquid particles but it may be used also for the removal of solid particles from gases and, in fact, for any of the usual purposes forwhich electrical precipitators are employed.

' Various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the apparatus without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim: v

1. In an electrical precipitator, a shell having an inlet and an outlet for gases, two sets of electrodes therein and a casing spaced laterally from the shell and formin bar, the shell having an openin top thereof afiording communication with the chamber and the bottom of the casing being in the plane of the bottom of the opening, whereby liquid condensed in the chamber-is permitted to drain into the shell, an insulator in the chamber, and a bus-bar supported on the insulator and connected to one set of electrodes.

2. In an electrical precipitator, a shell having an inlet and an outlet for gases, two sets of electrodes therein and a casing spaced laterally from the shell and forming achamber, the shell having an opening below the top thereof afiording communication with the chamber and the bottom of the casing being in the plane of the bottom of the opening,

whereby liquid condensed in "the chamber a cham-- elow the 

